‘What do you want?’ Jesus asks the two disciples who approach him. Probably, they don’t really know what they want. They were followers of John the Baptist, until John pointed them towards Jesus. They address Jesus as ‘Rabbi’ – Teacher – and they ask him where he lives. The two men must see something in Jesus that draws them to him. They want to find out more.

Jesus’ response is ‘Come and see.’ He spends the rest of the day talking with them. We don’t know what was said during those hours, but by the next day, Andrew is convinced that Jesus is the Messiah – God’s chosen one. Andrew is so impressed with Jesus that he brings his brother Simon to meet the new teacher. And Jesus calls Simon, too. Jesus changes Simon’s name to Cephas (Peter, in English) – the Rock. Jesus will not just change his name, but his whole life, too.

Jesus called Simon and Andrew to become his disciples, and he calls each one of us to be a disciple, too. But Jesus gives us a choice. Like the first disciples, he invites us to ‘come and see.’ When we meet Jesus and listen to his words, we realise, like Simon and Andrew, that he is the Teacher who can give meaning to our life.

Simon and Andrew weren’t rich, famous or educated. They were ordinary working men, until Jesus called them to follow him. Jesus has a unique call for each of us. However the world may see us, we are precious to God. Jesus calls us to meet him; to ‘come and see.’

 Local hospitals are in urgent need of toiletries for the many patients they are currently treating.  Please help the NHS by donating: Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Shower Gel, Shampoo, Combs/Brushes, Shaving Cream, Razors and Flannels. Items can be left in the box in the porch at St Cuthbert’s – please do not go to the hospitals.

‘Be  a light  in  the darkness’ is  the  theme for  2021’s annual Holocaust  memorial  day. Holocaust  memorial  events take  place  around January  27th,  the anniversary  of the  liberation  of  the  Auschwitz Camp in 1945. Due to Covid restrictions,  the  Department for  Interreligious  Relations  are  unable to  hold  the usual annual  events. However, an online commemoration will be available from 25^th January on the diocesan website, www.rcdhn.org.uk This  will  include  a testimony  given  by Anita  Lasker  Wallfisch, who  is  a survivor  of  the infamous  Auschwitz  orchestra. Contributions  have  also been  given  by members  of  The United  Hebrew  Congregation Synagogue  in  Newcastle, and  Anita’s  grandson Simon,  a  renowned cellist.

The Diocese of Middlesbrough has set up a system to allow people who do not have internet access to listen to Mass over the telephone. This service can be accessed by calling 01642 130120.

Today, the Church concludes the Christmas season by celebrating the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Jesus, as a young man, left his family home and appeared in public for the first time, when he was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Jesus’ baptism was an important moment for him. He saw the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, and he heard the voice of God the Father telling him, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’ These words of the Father strengthened Jesus to begin his public ministry. After a time of trial in the wilderness, he would set out, preaching and teaching, healing the sick and forgiving sins.

For each one of us, our baptism was the beginning of our life as a Christian; a new birth. Whether we were baptised as a baby or as an adult, that was the day when we became a member of the family of Jesus’ disciples, the Church. On that day, we too, like Jesus, were given a promise of God’s love and favour, and we too were filled with the Holy Spirit, to strengthen us for the journey of life that lay before us.

In today’s Second Reading, St John reminds us of the two commandments that God gave us through Jesus; to love God, and to love God’s children, our fellow men and women. Every day, we have to choose whether we will be true to the promises of our baptism by showing love to others. Every day, we should remember that we are God’s beloved children, and that our Father’s favour rests on us

Negotiating Salvation and Divine Sovereignty in the Calvinist Tradition. Presented by Prof. Alec Ryrie, Durham University. Thursday 14 January at 5.00pm. See the Centre for Catholic Studies website for details and registration

The Light that shines in the darkness

Today’s reading comes from the very beginning of John’s Gospel. Before telling us the story of Jesus’s life, John sets the scene with this strange and mysterious  Prologue, reflecting on the Word of God.

The Word of God was with God the Father ‘in the beginning’ – at the creation of the world. The Word is the Light that shines in the darkness. The Word brings life into the world. The Word ‘was made flesh and lived among us.’ The Word of God is Jesus, the Son of God. The Word has become a man, and has come to live in the world that God made. The Son of God knows how we feel, because he experienced everything that we do. He felt hungry, thirsty, tired, sad. He wept when his friend Lazarus died. He felt lost and abandoned on the Cross. 

Jesus is the Light that shines out in the darkness of sin and suffering. He brings hope and meaning to those who have lost their way in the dark. Jesus brings life; he heals the sick, and overcomes sin and death. 

Jesus is the Light for all people. We are quick to divide people up, according to nationality, race or class. But with Jesus, there are no divisions. We are all God’s children, in the light of Christ.

We have lived through a strange and difficult year. As a new year begins, the world around us may still seem dark and frightening. But Jesus is the Light that shines in the darkness. He will show us the way.